How to Make a Basketball Shot Better

Shooting a basketball consistently is one of the hardest things to do in sports. The act is unnatural so you begin to develop bad habits because you decide that your way feels better. Even though your shot goes in sometimes, you are not very consistent. The reason for this is simple. If you don't shoot correctly and exactly the same way each time, your mechanics will be off and you will have a harder time making baskets. There are a few simple things you can do to improve your shot.

Things You'll Need

  • Basketball
  • Basketball Hoop
Show More

Instructions

  1. How to Shoot Better Baskets

    • 1

      Locate your target earlier. Finding the rim even a split second earlier gives your brain more time to focus and calculate the correct distance and amount of strength it will take to get the ball to the rim. Your eyes should focus on the rim as early as possible. By continually doing this when you practice, you will ensure that your technique will carry over into game situations when it counts the most.

    • 2

      Hold your follow-through. Although the act of shooting a basketball can feel unnatural, it is important that you shoot the ball with full extension and keep your arm extended even after the ball leaves your hand. Holding your follow-through will ensure that you are exerting as little energy as possible and cutting down on movements that might cause your shot to be off.

    • 3

      Flick your wrist. One of the most common mistake you can make as a shooter is to be stiff when you let go of the ball. When you release the ball, make sure you're as relaxed as possible when you flick the ball off your wrist. Your hand should finish lined up with the basket as if you are reaching into a cookie jar on a high shelf.

    • 4

      Put arc on the ball. The higher you shoot the ball, the more of a chance it has of falling into the basket. Shots with the proper amount of arc are more likely to go in because the ball is falling into the basket rather than trying to skim over the rim and drop in. When you are shooting, you want the ball to travel up in the air, out toward the basket and down into the basket. Remember "up, out and down," rather than just "out and down".

    • 5

      Land in the same spot. Shooters often miss because they are off-balance and falling away. If they don't fall away, then they come down dancing around or moving their feet. A basketball shot should have as few movements as possible to ensure as few mistakes as possible. You should shoot the ball like you are in a test tube and come down exactly where you jumped from. Once you have landed, stay there and watch the flight of the ball.

    • 6

      Practice. Repetition is the key to becoming a successful shooter. Not only will shooting the same way over and over again train your muscle memory so that you can concentrate more on other aspects of the game, but it will allow you to get into a rhythm and create confidence. Remember that once you have gotten the fundamentals down, the game of basketball is more mental than physical.